
SUlider
January 12
GOD'S PITY AND ZEAL FOR HIS PEOPLE (Joel 2:18-22).
Verse 18 suggests that the priests and people had responded to
God's appeals for revival and reformation.
"The clause reads literally, 'Then Jehovah became jealous.' It is
assumed that the repentance enjoined had taken place."—SDA
Bible Commentary, vol.
4, p. 944. Thus God could give His blessings
as described in verses 18-22. But because Israel did not remain
faithful, the ultimate fulfillment of the promises in Joel 2:19-32 is
reserved for the Christian church.
What promises did God make in Joel 2:18-22 regarding the
people, the invaders, the land, and the animals?
"The Lord will be jealous for his land" (Joel 2:18, NIV). The
Hebrew word translated "jealous" means "to have zeal, to be zeal-
ous." God's jealousy, unlike man's, involves no selfishness. His
jealousy is a loving, zealous desire to bless His people.
"I will send you corn, and wine, and oil" (Joel 2:19). Through-
out the Old Testament corn, wine, and oil are material symbols of
God's spiritual blessings that He gives to His faithful people. God
covenanted to bless His people if they would love and obey Him:
"He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless
the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your
grain and
your wine and your oil"
(Deut. 7:13, RSV, italics supplied). If they
turned away from the Lord, a curse would be upon them; the land
would not produce; and the grain, wine, and oil would be cut off.
(See Deut. 28:40, 51; compare Hosea 2:8, 9.)
"I will remove far off from you the northern army" (Joel 2:20).
Most of Israel's enemies came from the north. The Assyrians, the
Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Syrians, the Romans,
and the papal crusaders marched into Palestine from the north.
(See Isa. 41:25; Jer. 1:14; 25:9.)
In what ways do you think these promises apply to God's
people today?
The little horn power of Daniel 8 functions till the coming of Jesus:
"By no human hand, he shall be broken" (Dan. 11:25, RSV). Daniel 11
speaks of the same power as "the king of the north" (verse 40): "He
shall come to his end, with none to help him" (verse 45, RSV). Can
you relate Daniel's predictions to those of Joel?
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